Robust filters for social networking environments

ABSTRACT

Networking systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide robust filtering to enable users to customize their networking environments. A networking system can comprise a plurality of interfaces, a request unit, a management unit, and a filter unit. Each interface can include a plurality of displayable objects, each of which can represent some user of the networking system. The request unit can receive from a client a request for one of the interfaces. The management unit can manage filters, where each active filter hides one or more users from one or more other users. When an interface is requested by a client associated with a first user, the filter unit can apply the active filters to the requested interface to exclude displayable objects that represent users hidden from the first user by one or more active filters.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the invention relate to virtual networking and,more particularly, to robust filtering in virtual networkingenvironments.

BACKGROUND

Social networking environments generally provide search utilities thatenable a user to search for other users by providing search criteria,thus filtering out those users that do not meet the provided searchcriteria. These search utilities are useful in that they enable users toidentify friends, family, or other users meeting specificcharacteristics. After a user leaves the search page, however, users notmeeting the search criteria are shown to the first user as part of thegeneral networking environment.

Social networking environments also enable a user to block specificother users, so that the blocked users cannot interact with the user whodid the blocking. A block must be applied individually to each user, sothat blocking multiple people can become a chore.

SUMMARY

There is a need for robust filtering systems for virtual networkingsystems or environments, whereby a first user can not only searchthrough other users, but can also interact with the networking system asif only a subset of the other users exists on the networking system. Itis to such a networking system and environment, and associated methods,that various embodiments of the present invention are directed.

Briefly described, a networking system according to embodiments of thepresent invention can comprise a plurality of interfaces, a requestunit, a management unit, and a filter unit.

The interfaces of the networking system may be web pages or softwareapplication interfaces through which a user can interact with thenetworking system. Each interface can correspond to a plurality ofdisplayable objects, and each displayable object can represent one ormore users of the networking system. Displayable objects can be variousitems that can be displayed in an interface. A displayable object can bea trace of at least one user, and can therefore represent that at leastone user. For example, and not limitation, a displayable object can be acomment, a photo, a tag, or another aspect of an interface that canrefer to or otherwise represent one or more specific users.

The request unit can receive requests from clients for the variousinterfaces of the networking system. After a request is received, therequested interface can be filtered and then transmitted to therequesting client.

The management unit can receive and manage filters from users of thenetworking system. A filter from a first user can indicate one or bothof the following: (1) which subset of the users of the networking systemmay view the first user; and (2) which subset of the users of thenetworking system may be viewable to the first user. When active, afilter can hide one or more users from one or more other users.

The filter unit can provide the interfaces to clients of the networkingsystem, with application of the filters that are currently active on thenetworking system. Each interface can comprise a plurality of data. Forexample, if an interface is a web page then that interface can comprisecode, such as HTML code or scripting code, used by the client to displaythe interface. When a client requests a particular interface, the filterunit can select and transmit the data corresponding to the requestedinterface to the client. When selecting the data for transmission, thefilter unit can access active filters. Applying the active filters, thefilter unit can filter the data corresponding to the requested interfacebefore transmitting that data to the client. Accordingly, the client canreceive a filtered version of the requested interface. In an exemplaryembodiment, the filtered interface can exclude displayable objectsrepresenting some or all users who are hidden from the user at theclient by active filters.

Accordingly, the networking system can enable each user to view andinteract with only a subset of the other users, so as to customize eachuser's experience with the networking system. These and other objects,features, and advantages of the networking system will become moreapparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a networking system incorporating arobust filtering system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a suitable computing device that can beused in the networking system, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary interface of the networking system,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of the networking system with applicationof one or more filters, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first method of applying filters to a web page ofthe networking system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second method of applying filters to a web page ofthe networking system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of theinvention, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. Inparticular, the invention is described in the context of being aweb-based interactive networking system and environment for socialnetworking incorporating a robust filtering system. Embodiments of theinvention, however, are not limited to web-based implementations, or tosocial networking. Rather, embodiments of the invention can be used fornetworking and interaction between various entities and individuals invarious environments. Some exemplary embodiments of the networkingsystem can be used for personal entertainment, and others can be forprofessional use. Professional uses of the networking system caninclude, for example, personnel recruiting, educational applications,and various other applications in which filtering users according tocustomized criteria can be useful.

Embodiments of the present networking system can be implemented in mediacenters, video game consoles, operating systems, and virtual machines.Media centers can include television, telephone, and internettechnologies, any of which can utilize various embodiments of thepresent networking system. Operating systems, such as Linux™, Mac OS X™,and Microsoft Windows™, enable certain technologies to be implementedwithin the operating system outside of the framework of the World WideWeb. Accordingly, embodiments of the networking system can be utilizedin such operating systems without use of the World Wide Web. Inaddition, technologies such as Java™ and Adobe Air™ allow functionalityoutside the scope of the World Wide Web, in the context of “virtualmachines,” which can utilize the present networking system. Throughoutthe present description, the present invention is described as embodiedin a web environment. However, those of skill in the art will recognizethat the concepts of the invention are not limited to a web environmentand could be applied to various other systems. Accordingly, reference toweb components herein is for convenience, and such references should notbe considered limiting. For example, and not limitation, references to aweb browser or web client may refer to some other software applicationhaving access to a network.

The components described hereinafter as making up various elements ofthe invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Manysuitable components that would perform the same or similar functions ascomponents described herein are intended to be embraced within the scopeof the invention. Such other components not described herein caninclude, but are not limited to, for example, components developed afterdevelopment of the invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise networking systemsincorporating robust filters and a robust filtering system. Referringnow to the figures, in which like reference numerals represent likeparts throughout the views, various embodiments of the networking systemwill be described in detail.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a networking system 100 incorporating arobust filtering system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in the FIG. 1, the networking system 100 cancomprise a server 110, a website 120, and one or more clients 130. Theserver 110 can be or can access a web server for managing the website120. The server and each client 130 can be one or more computing devices200 (see FIG. 2), a portion of a computing device 200, or a set of oneor more processes. For example, and not limitation, a client 130 can bea personal computer or a web client. Each client 130 can be associatedwith a user, and the associated user can use the client 130 tocommunicate with the server 110. Communications between each client 130and the server 110 can occur over a network 50, such as the Internet.

Each of the server 110 and the clients 130 can be one or more computingdevices 200 or portions thereof. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of asuitable computing device 200 that can be used as or can comprise aportion of a client 130 or the server 110, in an exemplary embodiment ofthe networking system 100. Although specific components of a computingdevice 200 are illustrated in FIG. 2, the depiction of these componentsin lieu of others does not limit the scope of the invention. Rather,various types of computing devices 200 can be used to implementembodiments of the networking system 100. Exemplary embodiments of thenetworking system 100 can be operational with numerous other generalpurpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that can be suitable for use with the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers,hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, and the like.

Exemplary embodiments of the networking system 100 can be described in ageneral context of computer-executable instructions, such as one or moreapplications or program modules, stored on a computer-readable mediumand executed by a computer processing unit. Generally, program modulescan include routines, programs, objects, components, or data structuresthat perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Embodiments of the networking system 100 can also be practiced indistributed computing environments, where tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network. Ina distributed computing environment, the server 110 can comprisemultiple computing devices 200, and processes that would otherwise beperformed by the server 110 can be executed by clients 130 or otherdevices located remotely from one another.

With reference to FIG. 2, components of the computing device 200 cancomprise, without limitation, a processing unit 220 and a system memory230. A system bus 221 can couple various system components including thesystem memory 230 to the processing unit 220. The system bus 221 can beany of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, sucharchitectures can include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.

The computing device 200 can include a variety of computer readablemedia. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by the computing device 200, including both volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media. For example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.Computer storage media can include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium which can be used to store data accessible by thecomputing device 200.

Communication media can typically contain computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data in amodulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term“modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. For example, and not limitation, communication mediaincludes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection,and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wirelessmedia. Combinations of any of the above can also be included within thescope of computer readable media.

The system memory 230 can comprise computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 231and random access memory (RAM) 232. A basic input/output system 233(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within the computing device 200, such as duringstart-up, can typically be stored in the ROM 231. The RAM 232 typicallycontains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible toand/or presently in operation by the processing unit 220. For example,and not limitation, FIG. 2 illustrates operating system 234, applicationprograms 235, other program modules 236, and program data 237.

The computing device 200 can also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 2 illustrates a hard disk drive 241 that can read from or write tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 251 forreading or writing to a nonvolatile magnetic disk 252, and an opticaldisk drive 255 for reading or writing to a nonvolatile optical disk 256,such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in theexemplary operating environment can include magnetic tape cassettes,flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solidstate RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 241 can beconnected to the system bus 221 through a non-removable memory interfacesuch as interface 240, and magnetic disk drive 251 and optical diskdrive 255 are typically connected to the system bus 221 by a removablememory interface, such as interface 250.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 2 can provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputing device 200. For example, hard disk drive 241 is illustrated asstoring an operating system 244, application programs 245, other programmodules 246, and program data 247. These components can either be thesame as or different from operating system 234, application programs235, other program modules 236, and program data 237.

A web browser application program 235, or web client, can be stored onthe hard disk drive 241 or other storage media. The web client 235 canrequest and render web pages, such as those written in Hypertext MarkupLanguage (“HTML”), in another markup language, or in a scriptinglanguage. The web client 235 can be capable of executing client-sideobjects, as well as scripts within the browser environment.Additionally, the web client 235 can execute web application programs,which can be embodied in web pages.

A user of the computing device 200 can enter commands and informationinto the computing device 200 through input devices such as a keyboard262 and pointing device 261, commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball,or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) can include a microphone,joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, electronic white board, orthe like. These and other input devices are often connected to theprocessing unit 220 through a user input interface 260 coupled to thesystem bus 221, but can be connected by other interface and busstructures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serialbus (USB). A monitor 291 or other type of display device can also beconnected to the system bus 221 via an interface, such as a videointerface 290. In addition to the monitor, the computing device 200 canalso include other peripheral output devices such as speakers 297 and aprinter 296. These can be connected through an output peripheralinterface 295.

The computing device 200 can operate in a networked environment, beingin communication with one or more remote computers 280 over a network50. The remote computer 280 can be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, andcan include many or all of the elements described above relative to thecomputing device 200, including a memory storage device 281. Forexample, and not limitation, if the computing device 200 is a client130, them the remote computer 280 can be the server 110. Analogously, ifthe computing device 200 is the server 110, then the remote computer 280can be a client 130. The network 50 can comprise the Internet, a localarea network (LAN) 271, a wide area network (WAN) 273, or one or moreother networks.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computing device 200 canbe connected to the LAN 271 through a network interface or adapter 270.When used in a WAN networking environment, the computing device 200 caninclude a modem 272 or other means for establishing communications overthe WAN 273, such as the internet. The modem 272, which can be internalor external, can be connected to the system bus 221 via the user inputinterface 260 or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computing device200 can be stored in the remote memory storage device. For example, andnot limitation, FIG. 2 illustrates remote application programs 285 asresiding on memory storage device 281. It will be appreciated that thenetwork connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishinga communications link between the computers can be used.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the networking system 100 can provide a robustfiltering system whereby users of the networking system 100 canselectively view only aspects of the networking system 100 that meetspecified criteria. On conventional networking websites, a user cansearch the website for users meeting specific criteria, but afterleaving the search page, the user can then see aspects of the networkingsystem 100 related to various users, including those that were filteredout on the search page. In contrast, embodiments of the presentnetworking system 100 can enable a user to filter the entire networkingsystem 100, so that one, some, or all interfaces 125 of the networkingsystem 100 are filtered. Accordingly, to a particular user, thenetworking system 100 can appear to consist only of those users who meetcertain criteria. For example, if a current user wishes to interact onlywith redheads who have college degrees, then the networking system 100can appear to be made up of only redheads with college degrees.Accordingly, the networking system 100 can remove distractions, i.e.,other users who do not fit specified criteria, to the current user'spurpose on the networking system 100.

The networking system 100, on or accessible by the server 110, cancomprise one or more units for processing data and providing data to theclients 130. The units of the networking system 100 can be programs,program modules, or other operative components of the networking system100. These units can comprise, for example, a request unit 150, amanagement unit 160 and a filter unit 170. Generally, the request unit150 can receive requests from the clients for interfaces 125 of thenetworking system 100; the management unit 160 can receive and managefilters applicable to the networking system 100; and the filter unit 170can filter the interfaces 125 according to the filters, so that filteredversions of the interfaces 125 can be provided to the clients 130 inresponse to requests received from the clients 130. Although these unitsare described herein as being distinct components of the networkingsystem 100, this need not be the case. The units are distinguishedherein based on operative distinctiveness, but they can be implementedin various fashions. The elements or components making up the variousunits can overlap or be divided in a manner other than that describedbelow.

In an exemplary embodiment, the networking system 100 can comprise aplurality of interfaces 125, which can be application interfaces or webpages 128 of the associated website 120. A client 130 associated with auser can interact with the server 110 and with one or more other clients130 connected to the server 110 by requesting and using one or more ofthe interfaces 125 of the networking system 100. For example, when thenetworking system 100 utilizes a website 120 for interactions, theclient 130 can request web pages 128, which can be displayed to the userat the client 130. Through interactions with the web pages 128, or otherinterfaces 125, the user can utilize the networking system 100.

Each interface 125 can comprise or correspond to a plurality of data.For example, and not limitation, each web page 128 can correspond tocode in a mark-up language, a scripting language, or a combination ofboth. When a client 130 requests a particular interface 125, the datacorresponding to the requested interface 125 can be transmitted to theclient 130. For example, if a requested interface 125 is a web page 128,then code for rendering the web page 128 can be transmitted to theclient 130.

Each interface 125 can correspond to a plurality of displayable objects350. A displayable object 350 can be a graphical object, text object, orother item displayable on an interface 125 of the networking system 100.A displayable object 350 can represent one or more specific users, andcan include a trace or identification of the represented users. Forexample, and not limitation, a displayable object 350 can be a comment330, a photo 310, a tag 320, or another aspect of an interface 125 thatcan refer to or otherwise represent one or more specific users.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary interface 125 of the networking system100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, an interface 125 can include a photo 310posted by a first user. The photo 310 can be a first displayable object350 a that represents, or corresponds to, the first user. A second usermay be tagged in the photo 310, thus causing the interface 125 toinclude a second displayable object 350 b representing the second user,where the second displayable object 350 b is a tag 320. A third user maypost a comment 330 about the photo 310 on the interface 125, thuscausing the interface 125 to also include a third displayable object 350c representing the third user, where the third displayable object 350 cis a comment 330. Accordingly, the interface 125 can include andcorrespond to displayable objects 350 representing the first user, thesecond user, and the third user.

The networking system 100 can enable users to experience a customizednetworking environment, by filtering undesired displayable objects 350from interfaces 125 delivered to each user. Each user can be logged intohis or her associated client 130, so that the networking system 100 canbe aware of which user is associated with each client 130. Thenetworking system 100 can thus customize the interfaces 125 rendered oneach client 130, so as to apply the filters applicable to the associateduser.

Each filter, when active, can hide one or more users from one or moreother users across the networking system 100 and across some or allinterfaces 125 of the networking system 100. When a second user ishidden from a first user by application of a filter, the interfaces 125transmitted to the first user's client 130 can exclude displayableobjects 350 representing the second user. In some embodiments, thisfiltering can be applied on a select set of the interfaces 125, so thathidden users can be visible in some instances. In some other embodimentsof the networking system 100, however, the filtering can occur for everyinterface 125 of the networking system 100. As a result, a filter candynamically hide some or all traces of hidden users from a user of thenetworking system 100. This can enable a current user to customize hisexperience with the networking system 100, so as to remove traces ofother users that the current user does not wish to see and, in someembodiments, to remove traces of the current user from other users bywhom the current user does not wish to be seen.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of the networking system 100 withapplication of one or more filters, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 4, the perspectives of four users areshown, where the solid boundary denotes the full set of users of thenetworking system, and where each dashed line represents the variousviews of Users A-D, as labeled. The networking system 100 can comprise aplurality of user accounts 450, each user account 450 being associatedwith a user of the networking system 100. In the example of FIG. 4, nofilters apply to User A, who sees a complete view of all users of thenetworking system 100. With no applicable active filters, a user's viewof the networking system 100 can thus be the complete set of useraccounts of the networking system 100. As shown with respect to UsersB-D, filters of the networking system 100 can apply to a user to hideothers from that user. Because different filters can apply to each user,users can have different views of the networking system 100. Forexample, each of Users B-D can see only a subset of the other users, sothat the networking system appears to each of these users as onlyincluding a respective subset of all users of the networking system 100.Depending on the specific filters that are active and applicable, asshown, various users' views of the networking system may overlap butneed not do so.

When applied, a filter can hide a second user from a first user, suchthat the first user may be unable to view, see, access, or interact withsome or all aspects of the second user or the second user account 450 onthe networking system 100. When a second user is hidden from a firstuser, the networking system 100 can hide, i.e., not display, some or alltraces of the second user from the networking system 100, such as fromthe website 120 of the networking system 100. These traces of the seconduser that are removed may include displayable objects 350 on theinterfaces 125 of the networking system 100, for example, a profile pageassociated with the user, activities conducted by the second user, andvarious other objects associated with, related to, or referencing thesecond user. Accordingly, if a web page 128 is displayed to the firstuser that would otherwise include a photo 310, other image, tag 320,comment 330, or other representation of the second user, such traces ofthe second user can be left out of the web page 128 when that page istransmitted to or rendered on the first user's client 130.

The networking system 100 can support one or more of internal filters,external filters, and two-way filters. Each filter can hide one or moreusers from one or more other users of the networking system 100. Aninternal filter of a first user can limit the view of the first user,thereby enabling the first user to see only a selected subset of otherusers of the networking system 100. When applied, an internal filterthus hides one or more other users from the first user. An externalfilter of a first user can limit the view of other users with respect tothe first user, thereby enabling only a selected subset of other usersto see the first user on the networking system 100. When applied, anexternal filter thus hides the first user from one or more other users.A two-way filter can be both an internal filter and an external filter.When applied by the first user, a two-way filter can thus hide aselected subset of other users from the first user, while simultaneouslyhiding the first user from the selected subset of other users. Anexemplary embodiment of the networking system 100 can support one, two,or all of these different filter types. For example, and not limitation,an exemplary embodiment of the networking filter can allow only internalfilters, so that a first user may not be allowed to limit the view ofother users, but can opt to hide some users from his or her own view.

The networking system 100 can receive one or more filters from each ofone or more users of the networking system 100. For example, and notlimitation, the networking system 100 can provide a web page 128, orother interface 125, through which a user can specify one or more setsof filtering criteria, where each set of criteria corresponds to afilter. In an exemplary embodiment, each filter may be an internalfilter, an external filter, or a two-way filter. Each filter can specifya set of whitelist criteria (i.e., criteria for users allowed, where allother users are disallowed) or a set of blacklist criteria (criteria forusers disallowed, where all other users are allowed) for filtering otherusers. A user can activate or deactivate each of his own filters ondemand, so not all filters of the user need be active at a given time.In an exemplary embodiment, only filters that are currently active inthe networking system 100 can be used to filter data delivered to theclients 130. Accordingly, the networking system 100 can store a set offilters controlled by the first user, while only applying an activesubset of those filters. As a result, a user can conveniently modify hisexperience with the networking system 100 by simply activating anddeactivating filters, instead of having to recreate filters every time achanged experience is desired.

In an exemplary embodiment, all filters controlled or specified by afirst user are applicable to the first user. In other words, each filterof a first user either hides the first user or hides other users fromthe first user. Additionally, other users can specify external andtwo-way filters applicable to the first user. Together, the activefilters controlled by the first user and other active filters applicableto the first user can form a set of filters applicable to the firstuser, each of which can affect the user's experience on the networkingsystem 100 and each of which can be considered and applied when thenetworking system 100 provides interfaces 125 to the first user.

In some embodiments, the networking system 100 can create an associationbetween the first user and all active filters applicable to the firstuser. For example, and not limitation, on the server 110, a user account450 of the user can be linked to each of the applicable active filters.Accordingly, when the first user's client 130 requests an interface 125,only these filters need be examined to determine how to display theinterface 125 to the first user. In some other exemplary embodiments,all active filters can be examined each time an interface 125 isrequested. In still some other exemplary embodiments, the complete setof active filters of the networking system 100, including those notapplicable to the first user, can be indexed based on filteringcriteria. Each time the first user's client 130 requests an interface125, the index can be used to efficiently identify active filters thatapply to the first user.

In an exemplary embodiment of the networking system 100, each user canaccess the networking system 100 and other users of the networkingsystem 100 by using an associated client 130, which can be connected tothe server 110 over the network 50. The user's interactions with thenetworking system 100 may cause the client 130 to request one or moreinterfaces 125 of the networking system 100. For example, and notlimitation, if the user selects a hyperlink on a web page 128, then theclient 130 associated with that user can request the web page 128referred to by the selected hyperlink. In an exemplary embodiment, suchrequests for interfaces 125 are made from the client 130 to the server110.

When an interface 125 is requested, the networking system 100 cantransmit to the requesting client 130 data corresponding to therequested interface 125. In an exemplary embodiment, the server 110 cantransmit this data to the client 130. If the requested interface 125 isa web page 128, the data transmitted to the client 130 in response tothe request can be data corresponding to that web page 128, which caninclude, for example HTML code, other ark-up language code, scriptingcode, or a combination thereof. Upon receiving the data, the client 130can use the data to render the requested interface 125.

The filtering for the requested interface 125 can occur either remotely(e.g., at the server 110), locally (e.g., at the client 130), or acombination of both remotely and locally. In some exemplary embodiments,the filtering is performed remotely, so that the client 130 does notreceive data related to hidden users. Alternatively, if the filteringwere to occur locally, then the client 130 would have access to dataduring the filtering process that some user has requested to be hiddenfrom the user associated with the client 130.

As discussed above, each interface 125 can comprise a plurality ofdisplayable objects 350. When a client 130 requests an interface 125,the server 110 can respond by transmitting code for the interface 125 tothe client 130. In an exemplary embodiment, the code received can definea layout for the interface 125 and can specify where displayable objects350 are to be placed within the interface 125. The code can furtherprovide instructions as to which displayable objects 350 are to berendered in the interface 125 at the client 130, or as to how toretrieve the displayable objects 350 to be rendered in the interface 125at the client 130. The selection of displayable objects 350 to berendered can exclude some or all displayable objects 350 representingusers hidden from the user associated with the requesting client 130.Accordingly, the networking system 100 can dynamically filter the dataof the requested interface 125 to exclude these displayable objects 350.

When an interface 125 is requested, the networking system 100 mayexamine and compare the requested interface's contents with a set ofactive filters applicable to the user associated with the requestingclient 130. When transmitting the code for an interface 125, thenetworking system 100, preferably at the server 110, may identify theactive filters applicable to the user associated with the requestingclient 130. Each displayable object 350 of the requested interface 125can be compared with this set of applicable active filters to determinewhether the user or users represented by the displayable objects 350 areto be hidden from the user at the requesting client 130 by one of theseactive filters. Each displayable object 350 for which it is determinedthat the represented user or users are hidden can be filtered from thedata transmitted to the client and from interface 125 displayed on theclient 130.

If a displayable object 350 is associated with multiple users, where atleast one user is hidden by an active filter and at least one user isnot hidden by an active filter, then some embodiments of the networkingsystem 100 can exclude that displayable object 350 from display on therequesting client 130. Some other embodiments of the networking system100, however, can display the displayable object 350 so long as at leastone of the represented users is not hidden from the user at client 130.Still other exemplary embodiments can allow each filter to be customizedby the user controlling that filter, so that the controlling user candecide how filtering will behave in these instances.

In some embodiments of the networking system 100, some displayableobjects 350 can be independent, while some displayable objects 350 canbe dependent on one or more other displayable objects 350. Returning tothe example presented in FIG. 3, as discussed above, an exemplaryinterface 125 can include a photo 310 as a first displayable object 350a, a tag 320 as a second displayable object 350 b, and a comment 330 asa third displayable object 350 c. In this example, tag 320 and thecomment 330 were added by users in response to the photo 310, and thesetwo displayable objects 350 would make little sense in the interface 125without the photo 310 also being included in the interface 125. Thephoto 310 can thus be deemed an independent displayable object 350,while the tag 320 and the comment 330 can be deemed dependentdisplayable objects 350 that depend on the photo 310.

A particular displayable object 350 may be dependent on one or moreother displayable objects 350, when that particular displayable object350 is tied to the one or more other displayable objects 350. This maybe the case, for example, when the particular displayable object 350 iscreated or initiated in response to the one or more other displayableobjects 350 on which it depends, or relates to or refers to the otherdisplayable objects 350. In the above example, the tag 320 and comment330 may be deemed dependent on the photo 310, as both the tag 320 andthe comment 330 relate to the photo 310 and were initiated in responseto the photo 310.

When the networking system 100 provides data for an interface 125 to aclient 130, the networking system 100 may exclude and hide from displayin the interface 125 not only the displayable objects 350 representingusers hidden by applicable active filters, but may also excludedisplayable objects 350 that are dependent on one or more otherdisplayable objects 350 that are excluded. For instance, if the photo310 in the above example is hidden by a filter, then the tag 320 and thecomment 330 may be hidden automatically. As a practical matter, ifdisplayed, these dependent displayable objects 350 may not make sense toa user when the displayable objects 350 upon which they depend arehidden. Thus, hiding displayable objects 350 dependent on other hiddendisplayable objects 350 may prevent potential confusion.

When an interface 125 is requested, the networking system 100 mayexamine and compare the requested interface's contents with a set ofactive filters applicable to the user associated with the requestingclient 130. When transmitting the code for an interface 125, thenetworking system 100, preferably at the server 110, may identify theactive filters applicable to the user associated with the requestingclient 130. Each displayable object 350 of the requested interface 125may be compared with this set of applicable active filters to determinewhether the user or users represented by the displayable objects 350 arehidden from the user at the requesting client 130 by one of these activefilters. Each displayable object 350 for which it is determined that therepresented user or users are hidden can be filtered from the interface125 transmitted to and displayed on the client 130.

In an exemplary embodiment of the networking system 100 that utilizes awebsite 120, one or more web pages 128 of the website 120 can utilizeJavaScript or some other mechanism configured to enable those web pages128 to be provided dynamically based on a current state of the web page128. A dynamic web page 128 according to the present invention can havea static layout to be dynamically filled with displayable objects 350corresponding to the web page 128.

In the networking system 100, server-side scripting can be utilized torender or dynamically update a web page 128 without displayable objects350 excluded by active filters. Server-side scripting can be implementedusing one or more of, for example, PHP, Perl, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP,ColdFusion, or another scripting language. In server-side scripting, theclient 130 encounters a script while rendering the web page 128. Basedon the content of the script, the client 130 can send the server 110 arequest or query string. In response to the request, the server 110 canreturn content to be included in the rendered web page 128. The contentreturned by the server 110 can vary based on the present state of thenetworking system 100, including currently active filters.

As discussed above, a web page 128 of the networking system 100 cancomprise a plurality of displayable objects 350. The code for a web page128 can instruct the client 130 to render displayable objects 350 withina region, such as a frame or other portion, of the web page 128. Thesize and shape of the region can be provided, for example, in staticHTML, through the use of client-side scripting, or a combination ofstatic HTML and client-side scripting. The displayable objects 350making up the content of the region can be rendered through the use ofserver-side scripting. The web page code can instruct the client 130 to,iteratively, call the server 110 to request another displayable object350 to display within the current region of the web page 128, until theserver 110 returns an indication that no further displayable objects 350are available. Each request to the server 110 can include one or more ofan identifier of the web page 128, an identifier of the client 130, anidentifier of the current section of the web page 128 in which therequested displayable object 350 is to be placed, and an identifier ofthe previous displayable object 350 provided. With the informationprovided in the request, along with information about active filters ofthe networking system 100, the server 110 can thus identify the nextdisplayable object 350 to deliver to the client 130. While rendering theweb page 128, the client 130 can repeatedly ask the server 110 foranother displayable object 350, until the indication is received that nofurther displayable objects 350 are to be rendered.

On the server side, the server 110 can have access to the complete listof objects to be displayed on the web page 128, and the server 110 canalso have access to a set of active filters. Each time the client 130requests a new displayable object 350, the server 110 can thus identifythe next displayable object and then determine whether that objectshould be filtered out according to any one of the relevant activefilters. If the server 110 determines that the displayable object 350should be filtered, then the server 110 can skip that displayable object350 and examine the next object. If the server 110 reaches a displayableobject 350 that should not be filtered, then that displayable object 350can be returned to the client 130 for display. If the server 110 insteadreaches the end of the list, such that no further objects are availableto return to the client 130, the server 110 can instead send to theclient 130 an indication that no further objects are available.

Alternatively, the filtering may also be performed on the client-side.For example, the server 110 can forward to the client 130 the list ofall displayable objects 350 that might be displayed in the currentregion regardless of active filters, and the server 110 can also forwardto the client 130 the set of the active filters. Instructed byclient-side scripting on the web page 128, the client 130 can apply thefilters locally, so as to display only those displayable objects 350that are not filtered out by the set of active filters. Althoughpotentially more efficient than the server-side approach, thisclient-side approach has the negative effect of storing all of thedisplayable objects 350 on the client 130. As a result, even though notall displayable objects 350 are displayed on the web page 128, becauseof the applied filters, the user at the client 130 may be able to accessthe displayable objects 350 that are not displayed. In some embodiments,it may be preferred not to send filtered-out displayable objects 350 tothe client 130. For example, if another user has a filter indicatingthat the other user wishes to hide from the current user, then sending adisplayable object 350 associated with that other user to the currentuser's client 130 may be undesirable to the other user. Further, thatother user may also desire not have the existence of his filter storedon the current user's client 130.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 of applying a newly received filter to aweb page 128 of the networking system 100, from the perspective of aclient 130, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. It will be understood that this method 500 is provided forillustrative purposes only, and that alternative methods can be used bythe networking system 100. As shown, at 510, an indication is receivedfrom the user that the user desires to access a particular web page 128.At 520, a request for the web page 128 is transmitted to the server 110.At 530, data corresponding to the web page 128 is received from theserver 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the received data can comprisestatic web page code as well as server-side scripting code for renderingthe web page 128. At 540, rendering of the web page 128 begins. At 550,while rendering the web page 128, a script is encountered that requiresthe client 130 to request displayable objects 350 from the server 110repeatedly until the server 110 indicates that no further displayableobjects 350 are available. At 560, a displayable object 350 is requestedfrom the server 110. At 570, the client 130 either receives adisplayable object 350 or an indication that no further displayableobjects 350 are available. At 580, if a displayable object 350 wasreceived then that displayable object 350 is rendered as part of the webpage 128, and then another displayable object 350 is requested at 560.If instead, an indication is received that no further displayableobjects 350 are available, then at 590, the client 130 ceases requestingdisplayable objects 350 and continues to render the web page 128locally. According to this method 500, the client 130 may render the webpage 128 with only the displayable objects 350 that the server 110provides, where the server 110 filters the displayable objects 350before they are delivered to the client 130.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of applying a newly received filter to aweb page 128 of the networking system 100, from the perspective of theserver 110, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. It will be understood that this method 600 is provided forillustrative purposes only, and that alternative methods can be used bythe networking system 100. As shown, at 610, a request is received froma client 130 for a particular web page 128. At 620, data correspondingto the requested web page 128 is transmitted to the client 130. In anexemplary embodiment, the transmitted data can comprise static web pagecode as well as server-side scripting code for rendering the web page128. At 630, a request is received from the client 130 for displayableobject 350 to include in the web page 128. In an exemplary embodiment,the request provides sufficient data for the server 110 to identify apotential displayable object 350 that would be provided next to theclient 130 if no active filters were applicable. At 640, a potentialdisplayable object 350 is identified, or it is determined that nofurther displayable objects 350 are available that meet the requestcriteria. If it is determined that no further displayable objects 350are available, then at 680, an indication of the lack of availabledisplayable objects 350 is transmitted to the client 130. Alternatively,if a potential displayable object 350 was identified, then at 650, thepotential displayable object 350 is compared against the active filtersof the networking system 100 to determine whether the potentialdisplayable object 350 represents a user that is hidden from the userassociated with the client 130. At 660, if the potential displayableobject 350 represents a hidden user, then the method 600 returns to 640to identify a next potential displayable object 350. If the potentialdisplayable object 350 does not represent a hidden user, then at 670,the potential displayable object 350 is transmitted to the client 130 inresponse to the request. Accordingly, the server 110 can filterdisplayable objects 350 according to active filters, thus enabling theclient 130 to render filtered web pages 128.

Through the networking system 100 and its robust filtering capabilities,users can customize a networking environment so as to see and interactwith only other users that meet defined criteria. As a result, a usercan avoid potential distractions of other users with whom that user hasno desire to network.

While the networking system 100 has been disclosed in exemplary forms,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications,additions, and deletions can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the system, method, and their equivalents, as set forth inthe following claims.

1. A method for a virtual networking environment having a plurality ofuser accounts, a plurality of interfaces, and a plurality of displayableobjects, each interface comprising a corresponding set of thedisplayable objects, and each displayable object representing acorresponding user account, the method comprising: receiving a firstrequest from a first user account to apply a first filter to the virtualnetworking environment; identifying a filtered subset of the displayableobjects in response to the first request, wherein the filtered subset ofthe displayable objects represents user accounts to which the firstfilter applies; and providing the plurality of interfaces to the firstuser, while hiding the filtered subset of the displayable objects ineach of the plurality of interfaces of the networking environment. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically updating theplurality of interfaces to hide the filtered subset of the displayableobjects.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising hiding a useraccount corresponding to the first user from the user accounts to whichthe first filter applies.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving a second request from the first user to deactivate the firstfilter; and automatically updating the plurality of interfaces to showthe filtered subset of the displayable objects.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein application of the first filter provides for the first user afirst limited view of the virtual networking environment and of theplurality of the interfaces.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinapplication of a second filter provides for a second user a secondlimited view of the virtual networking environment and of the pluralityof interfaces, and wherein the second limited view differs from thefirst limited view.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting a portion of a first interface of the plurality ofinterfaces to a client associated with the first user account, thetransmitted portion of the first interface excluding the filtered subsetof the displayable objects.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: managing a plurality of active filters, each of theplurality of filters being applicable to at least one of the pluralityof user accounts; and filtering the plurality of interfaces for eachindividual user account based on a subset of the filters applicable tothe individual user account.
 9. A system for a virtual networkingenvironment having a plurality of interfaces and a plurality of useraccounts, each user account being associated with a corresponding user,the system comprising: a management unit for receiving a plurality offilters for the virtual networking environment, each of the plurality offilters being applicable to at least on the plurality of user accounts;a request unit for receiving requests for the plurality of interfacesfrom the plurality of user accounts; and a filter unit for filtering theplurality of interfaces for each user account, wherein the filtering foreach individual user account is based on an applicable subset of theplurality of filters.
 10. The system of claim 9, the filter unit beingconfigured to filter each of the plurality of interfaces for a firstuser account to hide a plurality of other user accounts meeting a set offiltering criteria.
 11. The system of claim 9, the filter unit beingconfigured to hide a first user account from a second user accountthroughout the plurality of the interfaces.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein hiding the first user account from the second user account isperformed in response to a request from the first user account.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein hiding the first user account from thesecond user account is performed in response to a request from thesecond user account.
 14. The system of claim 11, the second user accountbeing visible to the first user account.
 15. A computer program productembodied in a computer-readable medium, the computer program productcomprising an algorithm adapted to effectuate a networking method, themethod comprising: providing a virtual networking environment comprisinga plurality of interfaces; providing a plurality of user accounts forthe virtual networking environment; associating each of the plurality ofinterfaces with a corresponding set of displayable objects, eachdisplayable object representing at least one of the user accounts;managing a plurality of active filters applicable to a first useraccount, each filter specifying at least one of the plurality of useraccounts; receiving a first request from a client for a first interfaceof the plurality of interfaces, the client being associated with thefirst user account; selecting a selected subset of the displayableobjects corresponding to the first interface, based on the plurality offilters applicable to the first user account, wherein each of thedisplayable objects corresponding to the first interface that representsat least one user account identified by the plurality active filters isexcluded from the selected subset of the displayable objects; andtransmitting to the client the selected subset of the displayableobjects.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, the plurality ofinterfaces being web pages.
 17. The computer program product of claim15, the networking method further comprising receiving an individualrequest for each displayable object in the selected subset of thedisplayable objects transmitted to the client.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 15, the networking method further comprising comparingeach displayable object corresponding to the first interface to theplurality of active filters to identify the selected subset of thedisplayable objects.
 19. The computer program product of claim 15,wherein the active filters specify that a second user account is to behidden from the first user account, the method further comprisingexcluding from the selected subset of the displayable objects alldisplayable objects representing the second user account.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, the networking method furthercomprising: receiving a plurality of requests from the client for theplurality of interfaces; and filtering each of the plurality ofinterfaces according to the plurality of active filters.